Andrews, one of the ship's designers (Mi- chael Cerveris). Ismay is portrayed as an upper-class twit, who foolisWy persuades the ship's captain, E. J. Smith Qohn Cunningham), to keep increasing the ship's speed in order to get to New York faster. Andrews comes across as vaguely maniacal-someone more likely to blow up ships than to build them. Captain Smith was by all accounts strangely pas- sive during the ship's last hours, and a made-up scene, set in the radio room, in which the three men throw the blame at each other like a hot potato, serves no dramatic purpose. But there are wonder- ful things here. As the famous first-class passengers board the ship, a starstruck second -class passenger (Victoria Clark) rattles off their names and gossips with her husband about them, neady solving a storytelling problem and acknowledg- ing-and feeding-the audience's own fascination with celebrity. The Marconi operator, Harold Bride (Martin Moran), and a stoker from the North of England, Frederick Barrett (Brian d'Arcy James), sing a moving duet: Barrett's telegraphed marriage proposal to his girlfriend back in England is counterpointed by Bride's paean to the miraculous new technology that has made such communication pos- sible. And the Edwardian class distinc- tions, which had much to do with who survived and who didn't, are addressed in every element of the production. This "Titanic" safely, and more or less in one piece, reaches its destination. " S TEEL PIER" (at the Richard Rodgers), the first new musical by John Kan- der and Fred Ebb since "Kiss of the Spi- der Woman," and "The Life" (at the Ethel Barrymore), which has a score by the esti- mable Cy Coleman, seem to illustrate the principle that having an idea isn't the same as having a clue. The creators of "Steel Pier," which takes place at the epon- ymous entertainment venue in Atlantic City in 1933, have gone to some lengths in order to achieve authenticity: Susan Stro- man's choreography is a checklist of the thirties' dance crazes. But what they've created is a slick fantasy: they've reduced the thirties to imagery that is already fa- miliar :&om movies and television. This isn't the Fred-and-Ginger, white-telephone thirties; it's the sepia-toned thirties, where fun always has an edge of desperation and everyone's looking to make a fast buck and every farm boy-the one in this show is named Happy-who comes East loses ills girl to the lure of the big city and goes home sadder and Wiser. The lame story, by Da- vid Thompson, involves a daredevil pilot named Bill (played by the very handsome and very dull Daniel McDonald), who has an accident during an air shoW; before he ascends permanendy to the Level Above Human he gets to spend a few more weeks at the shore. Why? Because he's in love, you fool! That's great for Bill and his girl, Rita (Karen Ziemba), but for us it means a lot of tired songs about second chances, dreaming, flying, and leaving the world behind. That brings me, kicking and scream- ing, to "The Life," directed by Michael Blakemore, which is a hokey, off-putting take on the oldest profession, with char- acters called J ojo, F renchi, Qteen, and Memphis, and music that's a pastiche of phony funk, fake blues, and overcooked pop. There are some good voices at work here, and it's a shame that Lillias White and Pamela Isaacs, who both play hook- ers, don't have better material. Chuck Cooper, who plays the baddest pImp around, does well with a threatening song called "My Way or the Highway," one of the few numbers that have anyau- thority or appeal. But the book is insult- ing and cartoonish, and the production's emphasis on "local color"-the neon signs, the bright-colored (and hideous) costumes-is repellendy touristy. T HE musical version of "Jekyll & Hyde," by Frank Wildhorn (mu- sic) and Leslie Bricusse (book and lyrics) is less about the duality of man's nature than it is about narcissistic isolation. That's something that adolescents of all ages can identify with, and it's no won- der that this show, which has already toured the country and been recorded, has a cult following. Dr. Jekyll, played by Robert Cuccioli, sings a lot of songs that have lyrics like "I do not know what I seek, but I'll seek it alone." Still, while there is much to laugh at in "Jekyll & Hyde," it seems a lot less cynical than "Steel Pier" and "The Life," and it's well directed by Robin Phillips. It also features two singers with lovely voices: Christiane Noll, who plays Dr. Jekyll's fiancée, and Linda Eder, who plays a lady of the night and sounds something like Barbra Strei- sand and Crystal Gayle. Half of me was ap- palled at the show's cheesy bombast, but I must admit that the other half ate it up. . 103 RARE DALI PRINTS If you own, or are considering the purchase of a Salvador Dali print.... SALVADOR DALI Our exclusive catalog features full-color pictures of more !}\ ".. than 500 signed limited edition I Salvador Dali prints. Each . print is fully documented by . Albert Field, curator of the Salvador Dali Archives, and gua l rante s ed l a d uth D ent l ic A ' R The A RETROSPECTIV cata og " a va or a i: , - or M <\STER PRINTS ' rospectIve of Master Pnnts, IS a must for anyone interested in works sIgned by Dali. Call now and we will rush you a free copy of "The Salvador Dali Collector's Newsletter". ($15 per issue) 1-(800) 275-3254 ask for Dept. NY http://www daligallery.com · FAX 3 10-454-2090 Brana Fme Art. 15332 Antioch St, # 108, PacIfic PalIsades, CA 9fJ272 . 'I. -.:: I'" .u THE BEST OF MÁRTA SEBESTYÉN "THE VOICE"OF THE ENGLISH PATIENT Available at fine stores everywhere. 'fí Or via mail order 1-888-2EARFUL(232-7385) lIThe Blueprint on how to LEGALLY AVOID TAXES" From the words of US Senator Moynihan I For a FREE information pack telephone,fax or write now to: Scope International Ltd, Box No. 6615, Forestside House. Rowlands Castle. Hampshire, P09 6EE, England, UK Tel: +44 1705 631751 Fax: +44 1705 631322 E-Mail: scope@mall.britnet.co.uk TEAK GARDEN FURNISHINGS 80 Page Colour Catalogue $3.00 ,. '1 :! Free Shipment from Stock *' \ - - ... ... Interior & Exterior Use Country Casual 1-301-540-0040 17317 Germantown Rd. Ste. 2047 Germantown, MD 20874 Architect's outstanding 4,300 sq. ft. home in SW New Mexico Foothills of GilaWilderness. All amenities, gorgeous scenery. $450,000 Call (505) 388-2323 or FAX (505) 538-9042